Free Speech on College Campus’s Remains Grim

In February, the faculty of Arizona State’s honors college, Barrett, arose in collective outrage at an event entitled “Health, Wealth, and Happiness.” Thirty-nine of the 47 faculty members at the college signed a letter condemning the event to the dean, Tara Williams. The event was said to feature “white nationalists” and “purveyors of hate who have publicly attacked women, people of color, the LGBTQ community, as well as the institutions of our democracy.”

One student, who wishes to remain nameless, told me her professor devoted ten minutes of class time to venting her “active opposition” to the event. “It scared me from wanting to attend,” she said. She imagined it must be dangerous.

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About the Author

Ann Atkinson

Ann Atkinson is the executive director of the T. W. Lewis Center for Personal Development at ASU’s Barrett, the Honors College, until June 30, 2023.

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In February, the faculty of Arizona State’s honors college, Barrett, arose in collective outrage at an event entitled “Health, Wealth, and Happiness.” Thirty-nine of the 47 faculty members at the college signed a letter condemning the event to the dean, Tara Williams. The event was said to feature “white nationalists” and “purveyors of hate who have publicly attacked women, people of color, the LGBTQ community, as well as the institutions of our democracy.”

One student, who wishes to remain nameless, told me her professor devoted ten minutes of class time to venting her “active opposition” to the event. “It scared me from wanting to attend,” she said. She imagined it must be dangerous.